The ED is a good step toward turning that around, as its starting price after tax credits would make it the lowest-priced electric-only car on the market. Granted, it would still be the size of a two-seater Smart car, but is that so bad? Urban dwellers get the high-mileage, affordable, parkable puttering car they were promised when Smart first made its way across the pond, while smart gets to reintroduce itself to a market that seemed miffed by Smart's costly, relatively inefficient first impression.

Kelley Blue Book likes the fact that an electric Fortwo signals an end to the gas-powered version's pokey transmission, but both car buyers and Smart should be happy that this brings an end to Smart's so-so first act in the U.S.